cxcifes ; he said he should continue his oppo£-
tion to the lalt.
Mr. Moore offered another modification of the
fe<ftion.
The queflion on adding the words, was put
and negatived.
Mr. Boudinot called the attention of the house
to the fourth fetflion, which authorizes the Pre
sident of the United States, by the advice and
consent of the Senate, to appoint such a number
of officers, as he may think necefTary—he thought
that the most, if not the only exceptionable clause
of the bill ; his opinion was, that the number of
officers fbould be limited. He moved this addi
tion to the fecftion—" provided the number do not
exceed in any county, city, town or village."
He objected to the clause as eftablifbing a dan
gerous precedent.
Mr. Bloodworth seconded this motion
Mr. Parker said lie was in favor of this motion,
becaule he wiflied to have the number of these
officers as small as possible.
Mr. Boudinot's motion occasioned considerable
debate, it was said that the number of officers is
virtually reftrifted by the cotnpenfation to be re
ceived, this allowance cannot be exceeded, so
that the number of officers cannot be encreafed
beyond what may be neceflary—if they are, the
President of the United States muftpay them out
of his own pocket, ortliey must receivealefs sum.
It was said in answer to this, that experience
shews when once the objecfl is obtained in the
appointment of these officers, ways and means
will be found to pay them—in confirmation of
this idea it was said, there arc already two mo
tions on the table for enhancing the compensa
tions to the officers of the revenue.
Mr. Boudinot's motion was negatived.
Several other amendments were proposed by
different members, and rejeifled. Ajourned.
THURSDAY, Jan. 20
The house resumed the consider ation of amend
ments to the new revenue bill.
An amendment was proposed by Mr. Sedgwick,
to strike out part of the 4th feiftion, which ref
pedts the compensations to the infpetfiors, and to
introduce a substitute, to limit their compensa
tions to a certain sum.
Mr. Sherman said he should prefer ftrikingout
the whole clause, and passing the bill without it
—and leave the compensations to be provided for
in a separate bill.
Mr. Gerry proposed an amendment, which he
conceived was not liable to the objections which
apply to the original clause, and to the amend
ment at present under confideratiou, and which
arise from their giving 1 he President the power
of establishing offices.
Mr. Sedgwick stated certain principles of con
ciliation which had induced him to move the
amendment now under consideration. He (hew
ed by a variety of particulars, that the services
will be various, and merit in some cases a much
greater cotnpenfation than in others.
Mr. Ames objedied to the amendment proposed,
on principles of economy,both of time and money.
The time is already so exhausted that there will
be scarcely fufficient in the present felfion, to fi
nifli the bill—and if the amendment is adopted,
it will follow, that in order to make adequate
provision in all cases, you must, in many instan
ces, make that compensation too much. He ur
ged the importance of passing the law with fucli
a power as would enable the Executive to appor
tion the compensations in proportion to the me
rits and services of the refpe&ive officers. This
law is said to be obnoxious to the disapprobation
of the people : It therefore becomes our duty to
make the compensations such, as may command
the services of men of responsibility, in point of
property and • character—men of prudence and
judgment. He conceived the power of apportion
ing the salaries might be left with the Supreme
Executive : Nor did he conceive there was any
thing in the Constitution contrary to this idea.
Gentlemen have cautioned the house against ex
ceeding the powers of .the Constitution by impli
cation ; he supposed that it was equally reprehen
sible to refrain from exercising the full powers,
indisputably vested in the legislature by the con
stitution.
Mr. Boudinot, agreeable to the idea of Mr. Sher
man, moved that the clause {hould be (truck out,
and leave the compensations to be provided for
in a subsequent bill.
This motion was seconded from various quar
ters, and occafiohed a considerable debate.
Mr. Burke said he was sorry to fee such a dis
position in many of the members of thishoufeto
extend the powers of the executive. The excise
bill is universally odious—and gentlemen seem
to be trying to render this more odious, by urg
ing one exceptionable clause after another: He
hoped this clause would be llruck out, and that
the legidature would retain the power of dispos
ing of their own money. He said that his ideas
on the fubjetl had been called chimeras—but
this was a (Vale trick, which has been long prac
tised by those who are in favor of ftrengrhening
the arm of the executive—it was always made
use of in that country whose precedents we often
recur to; but, for his part, no such obfervatiotis
should deter him from placing every poflible
guard round the liberties of the people, and
checking the undue extension of the executive
arm. v
The motion for striking out was carried —
29 to 27
A motion from Mr. Clymer, as a substitute for
the 4th fe(ftion, was then read. This proposed
an inspector for each Hate, atafalary of dol
lars per annum, with power ro appoint fucli num
ber of deputy infpecfiors as they may think pro
per—these deputy inspectors to receive per
cent, on the gross amount of the funis by their:
respectively colle<sed.
Mr. Sedgwick .proposed that this motion fhonld
je referred to a felecft committee, with other
motions now on the table.
Mr. Vining was opposed to referring it to a fe
ledt committee. He said the consequence of a re
ferreuce would be an unneceflary prolongation
of the business. He thought it might as well be
taken up and decided upon at the present time
as any.
Mr. Lawrance was in favor of referring this
motion to a feletfl: committee.
The Speaker observing that it would not be in
order to commit this motion, except in connec
tion with the whole clause, Mr. Clyiner with
drew it for the present.
Mr. Lee then moved, that the bill fliould be
recommitted for the purpose of bringing in a
clause deviling a proper mode of collecting the
revenue.
Mr. Livermore seconded the motion, and in a
few general remarks condemned the bill alto
gether.
Mr. Stone also spoke against the bill, and in
support of the motion for a recommitment.
Mr. Gerry objected to the motion, especially
as it was contemplated to make an arrangement
by which the duties of the officers of the reve
nue, already established, are to be blended with
those t)f the officers to be appointed by this law—
this would deprive the government of that check
which it has in view by this bill.
Mr. Livermore said, that he did not conceive
there was any thing like an excise contemplated
by the bill. The duty proposed on spirits is a
mere duty of import. As to checks, lie did not
think any additional ones were neceflary. If
the officers already appointed to colle<ft the reve
nue are not fufficient for the purpose, let them
be encreafed—but as to any further checks, he
considered them altogether fuperfluous. It is ac
knowledged, said he, on all hands, that the pa
triotism and pumftualiry of the importers has
been such as to produce a very ltridt compliance
with the revenue laws.
Mr. Gerry read several daufes in the hill, to
shew that it was something more than a mere im
port: law.
Mr. Giles said he hoped the bill would not be
precipitated, there are a number of propositions
on the table calculated to amend the several de
feds it contains, he therefore hoped the bill
would be recommitted for the purpose of amend
ing thole deletes ; he fully objected to fending
the bill up to the Senate in a confefledly imper
fe»fl state, and hoped no such precedent would
ever receive the fancftion of the lioufe, especially
in a money hill.
Mr. Sedgwick called the attention of the house
to the procels of this business ; much time was
spent in the difcufiion ofitlaftfeflion—we are now
past the middle of the present ; more than three
weeks have already been spent in the business,
and now at this late period, gentlemen come for
ward with propositions that strike at the very
principles of the bill. He hoped no such mo
tion would take place.
Mr. Vining objected to a recommitment; for
general purposes.
The qneftion on recommitting generally was
loft, 30 to 37.
A motion was then made For recommitting for
a particular purpose, which was loft, 24 to 33.
Adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 2
The bill making appropriations for the sup
port of government, for the year 1 791 ; and for
other purposes, was brought in, engrossed, read
the time and pafled.
Sundry petitions were read, and referred to
the heads of departments.
A meflage was received from the Senate, by
Mr. Otis their .Secretary, informing the bouse,
that they have pafled the bill declaring the as
sent of Congrefsto a certain a<ft of the state of
Maryland.
The bill to incorporate the subscribers to the
National Bank, was taken irrto confederation a
lengthy and interesting debatetook place.
Me (Irs. Jackson, Lee, Giles and Madison sup
ported the argument against the bill, princi
pally, as being tinconffitutional—Meflrs. Law
ranee, Sherman, and Gerry severally in favor
of its parting :-iio vote was taken this day on
the fubjccft.
730
Mr. Floyd of the committee of enrolment i
formed tlie house thattlie Kentucky bill was'nr""
femed to the Prelident for his aflent.
Mr. Ames presented the petition of Daniel
Loller, praying to be placed on the pension i;, t
—referred to the Secretary of the Treafurv.
Adjourned.
THURSDAY, Feb. 3.
Sundry petitions were read and referred to the
heads of departments.
Mr. Clymer presented the memorial offundrv
Widows, creditors of the United States—remon
ttratingagainll the funding fyltem—and praying
that they may receive fix per cent. on the »h" 0 le
'amount oftlie demandsagainft the United States
—referred to the Secretary of the Treasury.
A memorial of sundry merchants of Philadel
phia, refpetfting the ereillion of piers, at New.
Castle in the Delaware, for the security of the
navigation, was read and referred to the Secre
tary of the Treasury.
A committee consisting of Meffis. Sedgwick
Sturges, and Contee was appointed to report a
bill making a temporary provifionfortlie clerki
and other officers of the federal courts—alfocom
penfation to the jurors attending said courts.
The Bank-bill was further difcufl'ed this dav\
A motion was made by Mr. Williamfon to
mit the bill, for the purpose of amending thefirft
fecflion by prolongingthe time for receiving sub.
fcriptions from Ocftober to April—this motion
occasioned some debate, and was determined in'
he negative—the and Noes being as follow J
'(AYES.
Messrs. Baldwin, Blood-worth, Brown, Burli
Carroll, Coatee, Gals, Giles, Grout, Jack/on, Lu
Vladifon, Matthews, Moore, Sevier, Smith (S. C.
Steele, Stone, Tucker, White, Williamfon.
\NOES. : '
Messrs. Ames, Berfon, Boudinot, Bourne, Cad
•vallader, Clymer, Fitzf'imons, Floyd, Foftcr, Gerry
Oilman,Goodhue, Griffin, Hartley, Hathorne,HdJ!tr t
Huntington, Lawrance, Leonard, Livermore, Mub
lenherg, Parker, Partridge, Rcnfellaer, Schureman,
Scott, Sedgwick, Seney, Sherman, Smith (M.) Syl
vefier, Sinnickfon, Sturges, Thatcher, Trumbull, Vi
n'tng, Wad/worth, Wynkuop. v
Mr. Ames, in a length; supported tli«
onftitutionality of the 1 till—the iurrher consi
deration of which was ] oftponed. Adjourned./,
FRIDAY, Feb. 4
Mr. Heifter pt;efented the petition of Andrew
Holmes : Referred to the Secretary of the Trea
sury.
The petition of John Hollins was read, pray
ing an abatement of the additional dutiesoil Im
ports, which took plaeethe firft Jauuary laft,ari
fing on a cargo, which, tho it had arrived before,
could not be entered till subsequent to that period.
Referred to the Secretary of State.
A report of the Secretary of State, on the fub
jetft of the Filheries, was l aid before the Houle.
by the Speaker, and read by the Clerk—and on
motion, it was voted, that this Report, with a
letter from the French Charge des Affaires, which
accompanied the fame, be sent to the Senate.
The order of the day was called for—which
being the Bank-Bill, the Speaker propoled the
following question : Shall this billpafs ?
A lengthy debate then ensued on the general
principles of the bill—which continued until the
time of adjournment.
PARI S, October 14.
ANEW order of Knighthood is certainly forming in France,
with a view to overturn the new French Co'nftitution. The
fta» ends in eight points, with four Jl curs dc lis in the spaces, sur
mounted with the Crown of France ! In the centre is a medallion
representing on one fide the Marquis de Favras rising from his
tomb, on the other a crofspotcncec. There are rhree ranks of dig
nity in this order. The Cross stars of the fir ft and second differ
from that of the third, for instead of the croix potcncec on the re
verse of a medallion, there are the words— 44 Alpha and Omega."
Many silver-smiths are employed at Paris, Strafburgh, and Milan,
in making these stars. The Grand Master is at Turin; the Trea
surer, M. H. a near relatic*i of M. Barentin, late Keeper of the
.Seals; the Cashier, an ancient Advocate in Council; and the Se
cretary in Chief, an Abbe of great repute. The ribbon is black.
The Knights Commanders aie to wear the star at the bread; the
Matters and Apprentices at the button holes. At present the So
ciety wear them in their pockets (I have fcen two of them) be
caule the hour is not yet come.
This order goes under three or four different names—it is called
the order of Refurre&ion—of the Counter Revolution— ot the
Holy Sepulchre—or. simply of Jerusalem, a denomination that
aflimilates it, together with the black ribbon, to th2t of Malta.
The Cavaliers have proper signs and contra&s, like the Free Ma
sons, and many Members of the National" Assembly have been al
ready admitted into it.
LONDON, Dec. 3.
The Count dc Merci Argcntcau, the impciial Ambafiador at
the Hague, has written a letter to the Marechal Baron de Bender,
dated the zzA of November, which docs him infinite credit.
It breathes throughout the noblest fent'ments of genuine patno
tifm, and is written with firmnefs, tempered by mercy, and ir.aj,
therefore, be justly supposed to have been di&ated by the humane
Leopold, who is infinitely greater as a man, than asan Emperor*
though an excellent sovereign.
The poor Belgic multitude are mentioned as, u fiieep who have
gone astray," and who are to be treated with the utmost mildne s.
To spare, to protest, to forgive, these are the orders given to we
Austrian General.
The members of the parliament of Toulouse, overcome by t c
earnest entreaties of their friends, are gone to St. Sebzftian,
Spain, where they have been received most politely and cord ia )•
By this timely precaution they have, for the prefant, avoi c
the chains with which they were threatened to be loaded, an t